Method of forming designs in the sky



March-22, 1932. w REED. JR

- METHOD OF FORMING DESIGNS IN THE SKY Filed July 2, 1931 gwuwnhycKilian! Reed, Jr:

61 Hot new Patented Mar. 22, 1932 PATENT OFFICE WILLARD REED, JR., OFQUAN'IICO, VIRGINIA METHOD OF FORMING DESIGNS IN THE SKY Applicationfiled July 2,

, various parts of the design being made, the

' its completion visible smoke being released while the plane istraversing the parts of the design.

My invention is an improvement on this known method and involves the useof a plurality of aeroplanes which cooperate to produce the design.

This method has many advantages over the single aeroplane method. One ofthe difficulties encountered in sky writing is the premature disruptionof thedesign if the air conditions are unfavorable. Again, even thoughthere may be a uniform movement of the air in onedireetion within thearea in which the design is being formed, by the time the design hasbeen finished, it may have moved bodily away from the part of land overwhich its formation was begun. It is therefore highly important to formthe design as rapidly as possible so that there will be a comparativelylong time after the design is completed during which it can be observedand understood from the ground over which it was formed. By the use of aplurality of aeroplanes cooperating to produce the design, the time foris redneed, not only in proportion to the number of aeroplanes beingused, but still further by the elimination of many loops and circuitswhich must be performed by a single aeroplane in writing a series ofletters, for example.

Another advantage is better adapted to the making of print letters, orany design involving sharp angles. By employing a sufficient number ofaeroplanes, and three is a sufficient number for most printing, it ispossible to form a word comprising letters having angularlv relatedparts, forming clear cut angles, and still all of the aeroplanes mav betravelling in fairly direct courses from the beginning to the end of theword. without looping back to put in several parts of the same letter.

The value of any advertisement is propor of my method is that it 1931.Serial 1T0. 548,461.

tional to the interest which it will attract. A group of aeroplanesstunting in formation is far more interesting than a single aeroplane.For this reason also my improved method has a great advantage over theolder method of forming the design by means of a single aeroplane.

The accompanying ample of sky printing by my method. The single figureshows how the word Camel can be printed by the use of three aeroplanes.The view shows the operation as it would appear to an observer on theground.

The three aeroplanes are numbered 1, 2 and 3. The course of number 1 isindicated by medium length dashes, that of number 2 by short dashes, andthat of number 3 by long dashes.

Number 3 drawing shows an eX- forms the letter C alone, this being asimple letter involving a single long curve. As is well known, the pilotcuts on his smoke producer at the point where the letter C is begun andcuts it off at the lower .end of the letter. In the meantime numbers 1and 2 have been making the two sides of the letter A. These twoaeroplanes will be flying at different heights so as not to interferewith each other, but the effect from the ground will be the same. Number1 ma y be slightly in advance of and above number 2 and will determinethe upper point of the letter A. Number 2 flying below will be lookingup, and as he comes under the upper end of number 1s smoke, will cut inhis smoke producer. Alternatively, numbers 1 and 2 may cross the vertexof the letter A at the same instant, but at different levels, andsimultaneously release theirsmoke. The interest to spectators of thissimultaneous laying out of the two diverging sides of the letter A, andits consequent advertising value, will be evident. a

After numbers 1 and 2 have completed the sides of the letter A, number 3cuts through to make the cross stroke of the letter, flying at still adifferent level to avoid disturbance of two sides of the letter.

The manner in which the other letters are made cooperatively by thethree aeroplanes will be apparent from the drawing. It is to be notedthat there are very few sharp turns made by any aeroplane, andconsequently, the printing is very clear-cut and legible.

The use of a plurality of aeroplanes is particularly advantageousbecause it makes possible the finishing of many designs with a verypretty stunt adding greatly to the interest of the operation. Forexample in printing the Word Camel the word may be completed except forthe horizontal strokes of the letter E and the three aeroplanes thenturn back in V-formation and simultaneously put in the horizontalstrokes of this letter. Many other Words embody letters making the samesort of stunt possible.

'An inspection of the-courses indicated in the drawing will show howgreatly the total length of the course traversed is reduced below thatwhich would be required in printing the same word with a singleaeroplane.

My invention is not limited to any particular size of letters, but Ihave found that an average of 800 feet tall by 600 feet wide is aboutcorrect, considering visibility and ease of operation of the aeroplanesto direct them along their several courses.

Any suitable material may be used to make the designs. It may be ofvarious colors, each plane liberating a different color, or it may beluminous so as to be visible at night. The process can be carried out atnight without luminous smoke by lighting with flares or otherwise. Allkinds of material which may be used to form a visible design in the airare referred to'as smoke in this specification and the appended claim.

Having described my invention, I claim:

The method of printing words in the s I containing letters composed of aplurality of angularly related lines, which consists in simultaneouslyflying a plurality of aeroplanes above the place from which the designis to be viewed, along predetermined coordinated courses such thatdifferent lines of individual letters are traced by difl'erentaeroplanes, and releasing visible smoke from said aeroplanes during thetime they are tracing the lines of the letters.

WILLARD REED, JUNIOR.

